Printmaking indulgence

Yesterday I indulged myself ccompletely.  My inner creative child just loved inking up the two collagraph plates that I designed and made a couple of week ago. At this time of year there are lots of summer blooms to enjoy so I couldn’t resist making a collograph print. The plate was made from mounting board. I used wallpaper samples to get texture, netting, twine untwisted and teased out for the stem and lots of pva glue for subtle highlights to suggest the frailty of the petals of the Peony. Next I mixed vintage coloured inks. The photo above shows the plate after it had been inked and through the press.

Here’s the first result. The colours and detail came out well. I was pleased with the result (always difficult to show on a photo). My print was hand pressed on A3 Watercolour paper.

My next post will show my next collagraph. I hope you enjoy It.

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Cee’s fun foto challenge: the colour green-autumnal green medley

This photo challenge gave me the opportunity to focus on a photographic autumnal medley of shots taken on my recent walks as summer faded and the moist musty mornings came in abundance, with jewelled spider webs and bright fruits dangling with illuminated raindrops.

I hope you enjoy my medley. Spot a little friend working hard on a ‘summery’ day.

“cceenphotography/2014/10/21/cees-fun-foto-challenge-the-colour-green”

Willowherb whiskers

Lavender tinted pillows

Of wild water mint,

Reach over the banks.

Willowherb whiskers

Hissing in the sweet

Seasonal breeze.

Teasels and sensual

Seeds drift

Like a misty moon.

Woodland wanderer

Fairy confetti
Floats,
Wafting notes
Of zesty
Fondant,
As the woodland
Wanderer
Fondly
Longs for
A soak
In a dewy
Magical waterfall

Om Yam Om

We all cope with life’s challenges in different ways. As you know I love nature and everything natural and find the power of nature very healing. I love this peaceful image of the closeness of the geese, safely warming themselves on the opposite bank of the Grand Union Canal near Tring.
This post is called ‘Om Yam Om’ because it is a healing Bija mantra(sounds) for the Anahata chakra (heart chakra). I’ve been sounding this lovely mantra as part of my yoga practice. I’ve also been working on a yoga asana sequence from Swami Ambikananda’s book, ‘Healing yoga’, to purify my mind and body through balancing the heart chakra. This chakra governs the impulses of all the communication systems in the body, particularly that of the nervous system.
The experience of working to balance the heart chakra is very calming. We can all open, speak through our hearts, listen to our hearts and feel peace.
You can find out more about the chakras and mantras here, where there is a utube mantra video too.
“http://ar-yoga.com/2011/10/bija-mantras-the-sounds-of-the-chakras-lam-yam-ram-yam-om/

Namastexox

Enticing Iris

Enticing Iris,
‘Spring’s icing’!
Chiffon angel’s wings,
Shimmer and zing.
Golden bells ding
In seed scented breeze.
Ethereal Blue hue,
Serene,
Pure and true.

Cowparsley dream

Cavorting capriciously
In a Cowparsley cloud,
Voraciously darting
About; proudly
Singing aloud.
Shrouded in baby bunny-
Fine fluff,
Dreaming of silken
Butterflies,
Preening on
Milky filigree
Tufts.

When walking in the countryside around the beautiful sleepy hamlet of Bygrave with my friend and our three dogs, we took a footpath through a copse which was filled with Cowparsley. We trailed through a cloud of fluffy tufts, a dreamy, magical maze.

Zealous Yellow

Zealous yellow petals
Stretching for the sun.
Smiling stylish faces,
Miles and miles
Of fun!

Magnolia’s majesty

Magnolia’s majesty,
Gigantic blushed cream
Fantasy.

Found in nature

This photo was inspired by Cee’s black and white photo challenge, found in nature. I discovered these teasels whilst walking my dogs near an old sand pit, reclamed by nature, I feel that these spiky seed heads add structure to the landscape. Originally I shot colour and then used Snapseed to change my picture to black and white. I hope you enjoy it.

“http://ceenphotography.com/2014/03/12/cees-black-and-white-challenge/found-in-nature”